Trading Places: Leadership changing at some notable state associations

Billy Norrell

The leaders of several notable associations in the state are moving offices.

Billy Norrell, who has served as executive director of the Alabama Road Builders Association for about 16 years, has been named the chief executive officer of the Alabama Associated General Contractors. Norrell, who previously served as associate director of governmental affairs for Auburn University, began his work with the Road Builders Association in 1998.

Tom Layfield

The Road Builders then named Tom Layfield, another familiar face at the State House who had served as vice president of governmental affairs for the Alabama Bankers Association, as the executive director of that association.

In the wake of Layfield’s departure, the bankers hired away House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s chief counsel to serve as vice president of legal and governmental affairs. Jason Isbell will begin work for the Bankers Association on Sept. 2.

Jason Isbell

Isbell’s departure will obviously create a hole that needs to be filled in Hubbard’s office, which has remained largely consistent since he assumed the speakership following the November 2010 elections.